Mail-pouch catching and delivery device.



G. M. FOLEY. v MAIL POUGH GATOHING AND DELIVERY DEVICE.

- APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 6, 1908. 919,336. 7 I

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. 0902' eMfiZe G. M. FOLEY. MAIL POUCH OATOHING AND DELIVERY DEVICE.

APPLIOATION TILED F313. 5, 1908.

Patented Apr. 27 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Int/b12110 rgeMF'olqy Geo G. M. FOLEY.

MAIL POUGH GATOHING AND DELIVERY DEVICE.

APPLIOAiIIION FILED FEB. 6 1908. 27

3 $HEETJSHEET 3.

L 529 :8 W W/ J? a 57 El 41 00 a a *4 a lt a 45 o- GEORGE M. FOLEY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-POUCH CATCHING Specification of Letters Patent.

AND DELIVERY DEVICE.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Application filed February 5, 1908. Serial No. 414,346.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, GEORGE M. FOLEY, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements inMail-Pouch Catching and Delivery Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to mail catching and delivery devices, and theobject of my invention is to provide a device for delivering a mailpouch from a rapidly moving train and for catching the same in such amanner as to avoid undue strain or shock to the pouch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as mentioned,which may be readily reversed in order to deliver and receive a pouchfrom a train moving in either direction. I

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists generally in a deliverydevice arranged upon the train in combination with a receiving devicearranged beside the track and comprising a member rotatably mounted upona suitable support, a locking device normally holding said memberagainst rotation, a receiving arm pivotally connected to said rotarymember and adapted to extend radially therefrom when in receivingposition. and to be swung back upon said member by the momentum of thepouch, said arm in swing ing backward retracting said locking device andsetting the rotary member to turning, thereby bringing the pouch to restgradually and without undue shock.

My invention further consists in a receiving device characterized asabove mentioned and provided with means for locking the arm withrelation to the rotary member after having been swung backward thereon,to hold the pouch close to the support and prevent it and the arm fromswinging back into an extended position where it might cause seriousaccidents.

My invention further consists in a delivery device arranged upon thetrain and comprising a reversible wind guard, hingedly connected to themail car and means on said wind guard for supporting thereon the pouchto be delivered.

My invention further consists in various details of construction andarrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by. reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mail catching device embodying my inventionin its preferred form, Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is asection on the line x-rc of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a vertical section on theline y-y of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the catching device,Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view, of the reversible hook at the endof the receiving arm, Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the lockingmember which normally locks the rotary member against turning, Fig. 8 isa detail of the latch for looking the arm in backward or retractedposition, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the delivery device illustrating thesame mounted upon a car, Fig. 10 is, an edge view thereof, Fig. 11 is aface view of the delivery device and, Fig. 12 is a per spective view ofthe transfer device.

As before stated, the receiving device comprises a rotary member mountedupon a suitable support and an arm pivotally mounted upon said rotarymember and adapted to eX- tend radially therefrom when in receivingposition and means normally locking said member against rotation whenthe arm is we tended and means for retracting the locking device whenthe arm is swung inwardly.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive 1 indically arranged post having theupper end. reduced in diameter forming a vertically disposed journal, 2upon which the rotary member is mounted. T he rotary member comprises acylindrical hub or sleeve, 3 mounted on the journal, 2 and provided withthe radial arm, 4 and lugs 5, 5 and 6.

Pivotally connected to the end of the arm, 4 as at 7, is the receivingarm, 8, to the outer end of which is connected the receiving hook, 9.When the arm is in receiving position, it extends radially from therotary member, as illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and atsuch times the device is locked against ro tation in a mannerhereinafter described.

tion, suitable means must be employed for holding the same againstturning upon the pivot 7 until engaged by the pouch. Suitable means maybe employed for. positively locking the arm in extended position at suchtimes, but I prefer to employ a frictional device in order to avoid anypossibility of breaking the same. To this end I provide When the arm isextended in receiving posicates the support which consists of a vertithespring member, 10. This comprises a. strip of flat spring steel heirinto the shape shown and having its free ends secured to the lugs, 6.The ends may he secured in any suitable manner, hut I prefer to bendthem downwardly and pzure lel with each other as at 11 and. secure themto the legs, 6 by the ep screws, 1?.

The lugs, ere d metric-ally i from encn other end ding redizill :r saidlugs are the supporting arms, 1 arms being at suhstantiuily right an thearm, 4 and the lugs, 6. T he tirin comprise the horizontal top portion,1: tending from the upper face of the lugs, impinging against the iuuerhwe of the memher,1 0 Ll 1.5end pref, oly secured thereto as by therivets, l6, and the bottom portion 1.7, the end or which is cred to theunderl'nce oi? the lu s 'llhe urins ol strip of spring steel and A 1her, 10 u nvnrdly a ainst the i the arm, 8 with sultieient for 214%dental movement oi the l he noted that the member,

a horizontal plane and cor iti. es El 1 [or the erin, to swing upon. lfhen p is delivered to the llOUxC 9, the nioinentuurol the pouch su'in,n to the position shown in dott i 1. i stop. 18 limiting the inviurd suither of, a. spring latch, 1i) preio the arm l'roin T returning toextended posi ion.

Vfhen the arm, it; is eiitend ed ii position, to receive the pouch therote-"v ineznher upon which it is mounted locked against rotetion. Thelocking member comprises e liOlil, 20 which extends through an opening,21 in the lug, 6 end sleeve, 3 into :1 rece 22 in liivotnlly mounted asat crank levers, 15, one being arranged noon L I, n 1 V' rvl A, eucnside or the dense. ihe snort aim, at

of each lever is ro uiectei'l by link, to t bolt, 2'0 so thnt pressingthe long arm,

inwardly, that is, toward the (enter of th. device, the bolt Will beretracted the 0 tr e an n,

5 Vin lug or pin, 29 I livery position the ring lies at right angles toIt for this reeson that the portion 14 of the erms 1.3, end the rearportions 30 of the member 10 are depressed as shown It should be notedthat the portion 14 serves :is a support or guide for the arm in orderthat the device may be used tor catching mail from trains passing ineither prises s direction the hook, 9 is nurde reversible. To this end.the outer end of the arm, 8 is provided with the pnrallel lugs ortongues, 31 and the she. it, 92 of the hook is provided withcorresponding apertures to receive 'l w lugs, 31 and the apertures, 33are each of the same size, hence the hook may he reversed desired eitherof the lugs, 31 1 mg in either of the apertures. l' v' l'LGlI the hookis in position. on the arm, pins or bolts, 3d are dropped through theholes 35 and 36 in tshank, 32 and the lugs, 31 respectively, preventinoeccidentnl removal of the hook.

sepurntion or disengagement of the pouch from the hook.

Referring to ii dieetes the side 0 3? one side or the door frame are epair of perzlllGl arms, 41. Detechnhly mounted upon the arms, -11. is awind. guard, 42. This coinpr ses a piste, preferably oi iron and progs.l) to 12 inclusive, 38 ine. cer having the d oer-Way,

48, formed of strep iron and constituting n tQitl ib by which it ismounted upon the arms, the arms being slid or passed through the loopsas shown in Figs. 10 and 1.1. It is obvious the t the Crevice may bearranged. upon J 2i spring, 4-7 d rowing the blocks together.

'lhe trains]. ring, the llOOli, 9;,

device which I employ cornedspted. to be engaged by and provided with anintegral upon one face with the loops or eyes,

overhangs the arms, an d upon V .ilingedly connected to lu s, 40 upon'block, 40 from -which depends the eye portion, 50.

p the device the mail pouch is otherwise secured to the eye, 50 hehloclr, 4%; placed between the dloelis, anti 4:6 which clamp it inposition, the ring, 45 then heing parallel with. the arms. f! hen thedevice is swung outwardly into tie the tract: 11 the hook, 9.

To assist in supporting the weight of the pouch .i 5 'ide the her orred, 51 which extends tvrnrdly from the plate, 42 beneath the pouch. inordeto support pouches of dillertnit sizes, that is, pouches which aremore or lull, the ball, 51 is vertically adjustable upon tlr. plate, 42.To this end, it is secured to e hloclr, .52 slidrihly mounted on saidplate fl-D l extends through a slot, 53 therein. A. suitable ratchetdevice is proproper position to he engaged by vided for holding theleer, 51 and the block,

52 in proper position. To this end, one edge ol the block, is serratedas at 54 and is ent t'ary member mounted upon a suitable supgaged by aspring member, 55. After pouch is suspended upon the device the bar, 51is raised up close beneath it. preaching the receiving station, thedelivery device is swung outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 9.The hook, 9 enters the the port, in combination with an arm pivotallymounted upon said member and adapted to d hen apextend radiallytherefrom when in receiving position and to swing back upon said memberby the momentum. of the pouch,

ring, 48 and removes the transfer device toi gether with the pouch fromthe delivery device on the train. The momentum of the pouch. swings thearm, 8 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 releasing thebolt, 20 and starting the rotary member to turning. It is obvious thatthis will bring the pouch to rest without undue shock or strain thereon.The arm, 8 is locked between the members, 18 and 19 preventing it frombeing extended while the device is retating, thus avoiding seriousaccidents which might otherwise occur.

' Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. in a device of the class described, a delivery device arranged upon.car, in combination with a receiving device arranged beside the trackand comprising a member rotatably mounted upon a suitable support, alocking device normally holding said member against rotation, areceiving arm pivotally connected to said rotary member and adapted toextend radially therefrom when in receiving position and to be swungback upon said member by the momentum of the pouch and meansautomaticall operable by the swinging of said arm for unlocsing saidrotary member as and for the purp=. se specitied.

2. A mail catching device comprising a rotary member mounted upon asuitable support, in combination with a locking device normally holdingsaid member against rotation, receiving arm pivotally connected to saidrotary member and adapted to extend radially therefrom when in receivingposition and to swing back upon said member by the momentum of thepouch, means for looking the arm with relation to the rotary mem herafter having been swung backward thereon and means automaticallyoperable by the swinging of said arm for unlocking said rotary member,substantially as described.

3. A mail catching device comprising a rosaid arm having a receivinghook at the free end thereof, and a spring member forming a track orslide for said arm and adapted to press against the under-face thereof,as and for the purpose specified.

r. A mail catching device comprising a rotary member mounted upon asuitable support in combination with an arm pivotally mounted on said.member and adapted to extend radially therefrom when in receivingposition and to swing back upon said member by the momentum of thepouch, said arm having a receiving hook at the free end thereof, a boltnormally locking said rotary member against rotation and means forretracting said bolt to release said member as the arm swings backwardlythereon, substantially as described.

5. A mail catching device comprising a rotary member mounted upon asuitable support, in combination with a receiving arm pivotally mountedupon said member and adapted to extend therefrom when in receivingposition and to swing back upon said. member by the momentum of thepouch, a bolt normally locking said rotary member against rotation and abell crank lever operable by the swinging of said arm for retractingsaid bolt as and for the purpose specified.

6. A mail catching device mounted upon a suitable support and comprisinga rotary member, in combination with a receiving arm pivotally mountedupon said member and adapted to extend therefrom when in receivingposition and to swing back upon saidv member by the momentum of thepouch, said arm having a receiving hook at the free end thereof, saidhook being reversible as an d for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. FOLEY.

Witnesses A. VAN BERGEN, HELEN F. LILLIs.

